JetBlue, a major US carrier, has expanded its transatlantic connectivity with an inaugural flight from Boston to London Heathrow on September 20, 2022. An Airbus A321LR bound for London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) departed from Boston’s Logan International Airport (BOS) on Tuesday, marking the official launch of nonstop service between two cities. JetBlue will operate a once-daily flight on the Boston-London Heathrow route covering a distance of 3,265 miles one-way.
Bolstering foothold in London
On August 4, American low-cost carrier Jetblue marked a milestone by launching the first-ever transatlantic service from Boston to London Gatwick. Catering to the request of its large Boston customer base for flights to London, JetBlue finally brought the highly anticipated London Gatwick service to its Boston customers. To further grow its transatlantic presence in Central London, the budget airline has inaugurated a new service from Boston Logan to London’s Heathrow Airport from September 20.
London Heathrow, the major international airport in London, will see more of JetBlue’s characteristic blue tailfins as the carrier is complementing its current New York (JFK)-London (LHR) service with new daily flights from Boston.
The daily flight schedule for BOS-LHR is published as:
Flight B61620: Departure from Boston at 18:17 and arrival at Heathrow Airport at 06: 30 local time the next day
Flight B61621: Departure from Heathrow Airport at 08:25 and arrival at Boston Airport at 11:21 local time
Similarly, the flight schedule for BOS-LGW is:
BOS-LGW flight 2104: 6:37pm-6:35am (next day)
LGW-BOS flight 1926: 12:25pm-3:15pm
JetBlue will operate its LHR operations from the airport’s newest terminal, terminal 2 (also known as Queen’s terminal), to provide a modern airport experience for travelers with a wide array of shops and restaurants, ground transportation options, etc.
London Heathrow is the first UK base of JetBlue and an integral part of its transatlantic operations. The US low-cost carrier touched down at LHR Airport with its inaugural flight from JFK Airport in August 2021, and it has already gained permanent daily landing and takeoff slots at the UK’s busiest airport. JetBlue’s nonstop service from Boston to Heathrow will offer affordable fares to attract passengers who have long suffered from outrageously high fares by legacy carriers on this route. Besides, JetBlue’s presence in Heathrow Airport will make it more relevant and give the US-based brand visibility in its New England focus city to build a new base of travelers in the UK and beyond.
@JetBlue 1st flight from @BostonLogan to London @HeathrowAirport has just departed and I can’t wait to welcome them in the morning! This brings us to a total of 4 transatlantic daily flights between the U.K. and the US…and counting ????!! #proud #team #jetblue #london #boston pic.twitter.com/YN4DGas0iS
— Maja Gedosev (@MajaGedosev) September 20, 2022
The entry of JetBlue in the Boston-London Heathrow market will disrupt the pricing of major carriers as the low-cost airline introduces a new era of customer-focused, low-fare travel for leisure and business travelers. Boston’s largest carrier, JetBlue, will make it easier for Boston visitors to explore the UK, filled with buzzing cities, exciting outdoor adventures, and iconic landmarks during this beautiful Autumn season. At the same time, it will also offer additional travel choices for UK passengers to the vital US market, i.e., Boston.
Airbus A321LR for London Heathrow flights
JetBlue will offer direct BOS-LHR service using its Airbus A321LR (long range) aircraft which features a modern design, quieter engines, tons of entertainment, and the carrier’s all-suite Mint experience with lie-flat seats and direct aisle access. A321LR is the long-range variant of A32neo, providing an extended range of up to 4,000nm, allowing JetBlue to tap into new long-haul markets. At present, JetBlue has four A321LR in its fleet and utilizes them for transatlantic flights. Boston customers can enjoy their flights to London Heathrow with a wide array of in-flight amenities like huge overhead bins, a 10.1′ touchscreen, easy-to-reach power at every seat, adjustable headrests, endless entertainment options, a kit of on-the-go essentials, etc.
JetBlue’s four London routes
In line with the carrier’s focus city strategy and long-term transatlantic growth, JetBlue will add an additional Gatwick departure from New York beginning October 29, 2022. At present, Queens-headquartered JetBlue operates four London routes, i.e., New York JFK-London Gatwick LGW, JFK-LHR, BOS-LGW, and BOS-LHR. The airline made an entrance into the transatlantic market with nonstop flights from JFK to LHR in August 2021 and further enhanced the London presence with nonstop service from JFK to LGW in September 2021.
Currently, the discount airline offers altogether 4x daily flights to London from its New York and Boston focus cities. By October, JetBlue will offer five US-UK flight schedules per day. From next month, the carrier will operate:
- 1x daily flight from JFK to LHR
- 2xdaily flight from JFK to LGW
- 1xdaily flight from BOS to LHR
- 1xdaily flight from BOS to LGW
